US 2006/0048285 A1 · Ratchet mechanism with unitary knob and pinion construction

Abstract

A ratchet mechanism for the headband of a protective helmet or other headgear minimizes the number of components while ensuring precise, reliable operation of the rack and pinion arrangement of the ratchet mechanism. A headband of a protective helmet or similar headgear generally has overlapping rear end portions which are enclosed in a housing. The ratchet mechanism includes a rotational element, which in this case is a unitary body that includes an adjustment knob portion which is positioned on an exterior side of the outer housing section and a pinion portion which is positioned on an interior side of the outer housing section is adapted to mate with and engage the respective rack gears of the overlapping rear end portions of the headband.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A ratchet mechanism for a headband that has overlapping rear end portions, each such portion defining an elongated slot and associated rack gear, comprising:

a housing, including an outer housing section joined to an inner housing section, thus defining an internal cavity for receiving the overlapping rear end portions of said headband;
and
a rotational element that has a unitary construction, including a pinion portion which is adapted to mate with and engage the respective rack gears of the overlapping rear end portions of said headband, and an adjustment knob portion extending from said housing and adapted to be grasped and rotated by a wearer to cause lateral movement of the overlapping rear end portions of said headband with respect to one another.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Ratchet mechanism with unitary knob and pinion construction

Life of this patent

Ratchet mechanism with unitary knob and pinion construction

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11